[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-became-the-patron-of-villains":3,"chapter-became-the-patron-of-villains-became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-238":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Became the Patron of Villains",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},759728,1006,"Chapter 238","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-238",238,"\u003Cp>To sum it up, Alon and his group managed to break through the overwhelming number of cultists and reach the allied side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We… we made it back alive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“R-Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers murmured in disbelief, confirming that no cultists were pursuing them anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path they had run through like madmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What remained there were just thousands of footprints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No cultists spewing madness in pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No monsters drooling and snarling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence settled on the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers, dazed as they stared at the path they had come from, unconsciously threw down their weapons—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re alive—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I can’t believe we made it out of that crazy place~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They hugged one another, celebrating their survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joy of being alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The relief of escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wrapped in hopeful emotions, they shouted so loudly it seemed to shake the entire forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside them, Penia panted with her tongue out like a dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon also let out a rough breath and leaned against a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We made it out somehow.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After catching his breath, Alon looked around at the soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many survivors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, naturally, their numbers had dropped significantly since their initial advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was to be expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Alon had slain dozens of enemies and a single apostle, striking fear and despair into the enemy while inspiring hope and courage in his allies—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming difference in forces inevitably led to casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bitter feeling crept in, impossible to ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar faces came into Alon’s view as he surveyed the survivors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryanga and Ar, embracing each other happily despite their ragged breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nangwon and his sister, both crying tears of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beside them, Rangban, who had thrust his sword into the ground, letting out a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with the relief of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon blankly stared at the scene—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft voice reached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Alon turned his gaze, he saw a young girl bowing her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked familiar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……You were the one who had fallen earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, if it weren’t for you, Lord, I would have died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon quickly realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was one of the girls whose life he had just saved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl bowed even deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only seen her briefly, collapsed and in danger while they were running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Alon remembered her clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because she was human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the forces following Alon now, having a human was a rare thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Lord!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it weren’t for you, I—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, one by one, those whom Alon had saved began offering their thanks with reverence and awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon accepted their gratitude, then soon began moving again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had shaken off the cultists’ pursuit after breaking through the frontlines, but they had not yet joined the allied forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Alon resumed leading the group forward, Rangban approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said something seems off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban’s brow was furrowed, unlike before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By this point, we should be seeing the allied frontlines, but it’s strange that nothing is in sight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a chance we took the wrong route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, this is the right place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could something have gone wrong on the allied side… is that it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban paused for a moment, then said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not impossible something happened, but I doubt it’s anything major. If we were dealing with the worst-case scenario we anticipated, the cultists would have definitely sent a pursuit party.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the problem is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just odd that the frontlines seem to have retreated this far, yet no pursuit came. That’s what feels strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Didn’t the soldiers rescued from the last sacrificial temple say they were the most recently saved?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They said it was about three weeks ago, yes. And even they feel something is off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of thought—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, we should keep moving for now. It’s not like we have another option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon chose to continue forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban nodded immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The column pressed onward, determined to reach the allied frontlines without stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About three days passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that long-yet-short march, Alon discovered only one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied frontlines, which should definitely exist, were nowhere to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he hadn’t received any intel or seen anything definitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But circumstantially, it was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon and the soldiers had broken through the cultists’ lines and had been walking eastward ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the frontlines never appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite that, the Baarma cultists hadn’t sent a single pursuer since Alon’s escape, as if the allied frontlines were still firmly in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the soldiers started to feel something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t they say it would take about a week to reach the alliance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At our current pace, we should definitely arrive within that time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dusk fell beneath the gray sky, Alon slowly nodded at Rangban’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hopefully we’ll learn something once we arrive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I feel the same way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rangban let out a barely audible sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, I’m sure we’ll find answers once we get to the alliance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I checked various spots as we passed through the east, and there are signs of retreat everywhere. I don’t know why the cultists aren’t advancing and are holding the front, but……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He concluded with, “We’ll know once we arrive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a young girl approached Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord, here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nod-nod—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if she had been waiting, the girl handed Alon a sweet potato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beastkin girl with large ears like Seolrang’s, she absentmindedly played with her fluffy tail while gazing intently at Alon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a wordless pressure like, eat it now, Alon naturally bit into the sweet potato, recalling her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Was it Ria?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been among those he rescued three days ago, along with the human girl, as he tore through the frontlines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to repay the favor, the girl continued to bring Alon a sweet potato at every meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She only brought one each time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the number of sweet potatoes Alon ended up eating per meal was nearly four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, it actually exceeded four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the current food shortage, Alon had been eating quite abundantly lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two reasons for this, and one of them was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! You beat me to it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was my turn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How outrageous~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—because the children were all rushing to bring sweet potatoes to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryanga and Nangwon clenched their fists in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl Alon had saved earlier and Ar let out quiet sighs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching all of this, Alon once again accepted all the food the children had brought today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……Honestly, it would have been fine if it ended there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…“This is food I brought from over there—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s not! Lord must stay healthy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t make us seem like ungrateful fools~!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, he had to eat other foods too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll gratefully enjoy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers backed away, bowing repeatedly as they left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the wake of their retreat, aside from the four sweet potatoes, a mountain of fruits had piled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he couldn’t help but overeat instead of simply eating well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……No matter when I see it, it’s really a lot, Marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seriously, Godfather…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Penia and Rine, sitting next to him, shook their heads in exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon also let out a quiet sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers’ worship had begun ever since he broke through the frontlines three days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly unpleasant for him, but it was definitely burdensome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, for example—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the soldiers who brought the food seemed to have stepped back and disappeared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, they were hiding at a distance, secretly watching to see when Alon would eat what they had offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I really hope we arrive soon……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon continued to stuff sweet potatoes and fruit into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……The sweet potatoes were still delicious, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, about a day later—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alon arrived at ‘Dalma’, the place just before the allied stronghold, and also where Ryanga had asked to be taken when they first met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dalma looked almost exactly as Alon had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The village was in ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The houses had likely burned down, now reduced to charred ashes and blackened wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fields were covered in gray dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here and there were smears of blood, broken farming tools, and crumbled walls scattered across the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nearly identical to the image Alon had envisioned of a village ravaged by an attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was one thing that had defied his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpses gathered in the village square.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Alon’s usually emotionless face twisted into a grimace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how horrific the sight was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Alon, who had seen countless corpses, nearly gagged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urk—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goddamn—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He heard the soldiers’ voices murmuring near his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Eh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ryanga’s voice, once so spirited, rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was fragile—like a glass orb that could shatter at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>####\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia Bludia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was blankly staring up at the night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Milky Way was beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So beautiful that anyone would agree, if asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there was no emotion in Yutia’s expression as she gazed at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips were pressed into a flat line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only emotion visible on her face was indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Yutia continued to look at the Milky Way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if trying to etch its image into her crimson eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very small sound was heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft, barely audible tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without changing her posture, Yutia turned toward the source of the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Seolrang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang’s face was pointed downward, hidden from view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yutia didn’t need to see her face to understand her emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because what Seolrang was feeling now was something Yutia knew very well herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Yutia spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang, I’m sure I told you not to leave your post unless necessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A monotone voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice Seolrang feared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite that clear warning—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You heard it, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seolrang asked back, without a trace of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh? Tell me, Yutia. You heard the report, right? Then why did you order us to stay put?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dripped with simmering fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you so calm? You heard the report, didn’t you? Master… is dead…… Master died, you know? We have to get revenge. On those things called Agu… right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as Seolrang’s voice overflowed with killing intent—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seolrang, calm down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia only spoke with serenity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Seolrang finally said—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Master is pitiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blurted it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master cared about you, Yutia… always. Whether present or absent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you didn’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they knew it, Seolrang had lifted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes, swollen from crying so much, were filled with betrayal and hostility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why Master is pitiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were spat out like venom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the heavy silence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The previously expressionless Yutia—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—suddenly let out a chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small, bitter laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……It seems some discipline is in order, Seolrang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yutia raised her index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a face full of fury, unlike anything she had ever shown before.\u003C\u002Fp>",1839,"2026-06-02T12:43:45.413Z",1,"novelbin.me","5030fd220f08b8b60e3114a0915d816ebf7113143d218b7ab22a6ad7cc7c8176","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-239","became-the-patron-of-villains-chapter-237",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecame-the-patron-of-villains-cover.jpg"]